Staff from the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) will spend Tuesday, March 3, at the Washington State Legislative Building to speak with lawmakers, staff, and members of the public about the agency’s work. The plans were outlined in an announcement published by the PDC on February 27 in a notice available at the agency’s website.

According to the PDC, employees will host an informational booth on the building’s third-floor mezzanine from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The agency states that staff will be available throughout the day to discuss campaign-finance disclosure requirements, public access to filings, and ongoing updates to its online reporting systems.

The outreach visit will also include participation in a scheduled work session of the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee. The PDC reports that staff are slated to give a brief presentation at the session, which is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. in John L. O’Brien Building Hearing Room E. According to the agency, the presentation will focus on tools available to candidates and campaigns and on the ways technology is being used to improve public access and streamline filing processes.

The PDC was established in 1972 following voter approval of Initiative 276. As described in the agency’s announcement, it is overseen by a five‑member commission appointed by the Governor’s Office and processes tens of thousands of annual disclosures related to campaign finances, financial interests of elected officials, and lobbyist activity. The agency stated that its public website currently hosts more than 11 million records dating back to 2007.

In the past year, the PDC says it continued modernizing its online systems while expanding training opportunities, including lunchtime information sessions introduced in 2025. The agency states that these efforts are aimed at improving both filer experience and public transparency.

While the March 3 event is centered in Olympia, the PDC’s work has direct relevance for Southwest Washington residents. Candidates and committees operating in Cowlitz County rely on the same statewide filing systems, and members of the public use the PDC database to track political spending in local races. Legislative discussions about disclosure tools and accessibility may shape how easily community members can follow money in future county and municipal elections.

The PDC notes that its staff will be available throughout the day for anyone visiting the Legislative Building who wishes to learn more about the agency’s services.

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Washington State Public Disclosure Commission: Public Disclosure Commission staff are coming to visit the Legislature!